I first dined at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in 1999 at the original location in Syracuse, NY not knowing much about them at the time I trusted a few business associates even those I found it rather strange to have two of my friends high-five each other when they learned we were going to be in close proximity to this restaurant. I certainly thought they were exaggerating a bit when they described the low and slow bar-b-que these guys were putting out in New York. Well it only took one visit to make me a believer, and I make sure I find a seat at the bar if I'm in a city that host one of these national treasures. It would be impossible for me to say with certain what my favorite dish is, I will tell you this place dismisses the theory that you can have only one love. If you find yourself here throw out all your inhibitions, resolutions, diet restrictions or anything else that could ruin your experience here. Plan on a little over-indulgence because there are a number of things that you won't want to miss out on. By time you have your cocktail of choice in front of you, you probably will have had time to research the menu or you can trust me on a few recommendations that I admit have been passed down to me by dinosaurs experts but I don't think they are referred to as paleontologists here, it seems like pit master was more fitting, anyway you may enjoy them as I have many times. There are two things you should order with your drinks - creole deviled eggs and smoked chicken wings these are both rather straight forward and you don't need to over think it. The deviled eggs usually come out three to an order or a six pack, they are spicy and so delicious these are definitely premium eggs, the wings well I like mine naked just smoked I don't think there is any need to mask the flavors here they too are cooked low and slow, and are tender and moist but always well done. Hopefully you've ordered the entrées as soon as the appetizers arrived and another drink of course. Ok seriously whether or not I am able to eat everything I order I want to taste a trio of meats - the ribs - the brisket and the breast of a slow smoked chicken. St. Louis ribs, dry rubbed & slow smoked, lightly glazed these are the type that melt in your mouth with a slight tug to release them from the bone, and the beautiful bark provide a little chewiness so delicious. The Brisket - slow-smoked, hand-sliced deckle & lean with pickled onion & jalapeño relish, topped with sliced jalapeño I can't imagine how good a sandwich this would make. Chicken Breast - Apple-brined, pit-smoked & served with a jerk glaze by request - yes please. Bar-b-que is traditionally served with fries and slaw but they offer many others I like to keep it simple so throw in some pickles. I've always had friendly and acceptable service at the bar so I can't speak of the table service honestly I come here for the food, I don't care who delivers it.... read more

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A staple of downtown Rochester - what isn't to like about Dino? Whether it is a healthy salad with delicious portobello mushroom or pork belly with a side of French fries, baked beans, or Mac salad, everything is super delicious! read more

No place compares with the ribs and sides. Tough to get seated, but worth the wait. Wish they still had music on the weekends.

Service was great. The barbecue brisket, ribs & sausage some of the best we ever had and from Texas' read more

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Everything was so good! So many delicious options, & great music too! Service was kind, professional, & prompt for how busy it is! Thank You Kindly, Kelly R. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - David Esqueda - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

Great atmosphere and the food was really good. Must try their house beers. Specially the apple cider beer.

I have good service here I ordered here for a graduation party and the food was good I love the pulled pork from here. I could give you a five out of ten read more

I don't even try to get barbecue anywhere else. Dinosaur has set the bar so high for the barbecue scene. I don't even know how any other restaurant owner that serves barbecue wakes up in the morning and continues on with their day. I'll admit it... I get the meat sweats from time to time, definitely put myself into a meat coma every now and then. But that's a personal issue. And I've grown to accept it as the years pass. As long as Dinosaur BBQ is here to hold my hand every step of the way. I know that things will be okay. Oh yeah and the Mac and Cheese is great! read more

One of my favorite spots in Rochester. I love the fact that you can now make reservations on Open Table! Get the points for that too! It's usually so busy that you have to wait a long time for a table, but not anymore :) The location in Downtown Rochester isn't bad at all. You can park along the street, but it's usually full. Especially if there's an event at the Blue Cross Arena. We always park in the South Ave. Garage. It's free after 6pm I believe. Food here is always amazing. Some of my favorites: Fried Green Tomotoes... yum! Cucumber Tomato Salad is great! I tried to duplicate at home and nope. No can do! The ribs are always amazing, but I think my favorite is the pulled pork. There's always a variet of "slathering sauces" on the table so you can douse (or not) your food! Bartenders are attentive and friendly! There's a full bar so you can get pretty much anything you like. Music! Live music. My favorite! Usually a blues band and there are always people dancing. Put this on your list of restaurants to try! read more

I absolutely love the Dinosaur- I can't believe this is my first review of them! I love to see live music here, and their food is fantastic. My "usual" order is a 1/4 or 1/2 rack of ribs with Mac n cheese and Cajun corn. Love this combo! So I am currently on a healthier kick- and decided to see what the Dino had to offer. They have a chopped salad and I got seared salmon on top with a ginger dressing. Excellent and healthy too! They just redesigned the bar and increased the beer on tap - or maybe the taps are just all lined up now. It looks new and fresher but still retains the old charm of the Dino BBQ! Great food, music and beer- no wonder I give it 5 stars! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I really want to like Dino BBQ, but every time I've had it, it just doesn't deliver. We ordered the choose three combo plate with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. Sadly, our food came out cold like it was sitting in the kitchen before it got to our table. It was very disappointing considering how hungry we were. The brisket was definitely my favorite of the three meats. It was pull-apart tender and flavorful. The ribs had too much char and burnt areas for my liking. The pulled pork was also too fatty and didn't look very appetizing either. The combo plate came with two sides, and we chose Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. They have their own take on their Mac n cheese-- it's much sharper in flavor and spice. The mashed potatoes were decent too. Dino bbq may be a staple in Rochester, but not in my heart. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

I have been to four of the Dinosaur BBQ locations, and this one is by far my favorite. The food is always consistently delicious. I got the 1/4 rack of ribs with sides of mashed potatoes and tomato cucumber salad. The ribs are always fall-off-the-bone tender. My kiddos got the chicken tender plate and the Mac and cheese plate. I had to steal some of my daughter's Mac and cheese - the yummy smoky flavor is unbeatable. Portions are large. Service was excellent. Our food came very quickly. We will certainly be back! read more

Best BBQ in Rochester!! Hands down my favorite!! Highly recommended every time!! If you are ever in Rochester this is a must stop to check out!! read more

This was a busy place on a Thursday night but we were able to be seated in 20 mins rather than the quoted 45 min from the host. We started off with the creole deviled eggs which were very delicious and I especially loved the spicy kick to them. These are very different from your standard flavored deviled egg, so be prepared for that. Everyone in my party ordered the 2 meat combo. Everything from chicken, ribs, pulled pork and brisket. I especially loved the ribs but everyone else in my party said they were full of cartilage and were hard to eat. Pulled pork was pretty basic, brisket was said to be very good and chicken was another favorite. We also got tons of sides including Mac salad, Mac n cheese, bbq beans, Cajun corn and fries. Mac n cheese was odd tasting, Mac salad had a big tangy kick to it, bbq beans literally tasted like beans drenched in bbq sauce, corn was bland and fries were cold.... I will say that the corn bread was very good though. I'm not sure I can say any of us will be back anytime soon but the atmosphere was fun, the servers were friendly and there are some decent things on the menu. read more

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The restaurant inside was great and the decor was cool. The restaurant had a great view over the river. The burger was extremely tasty. The presentation of the burger was great and fries tasted good. The staff of the restaurant were very friendly helpful. read more

What can you say about a place that is always consistent and delivers the goods? Thank you! Thank you for the service, the quality, and the sweet memories of the last three decades. read more

Never been to Rochester before and this is quite a hidden gem. Amazing service from Renee, she was the sweetest and had good recommendations. I did the 2 different meats and chose the brisket and the hot link. It was sooo good but the hot link definitely stole the show. Will be back! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Hot link, CREOLE SPICED DEVILED EGGS, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy Bbq Beans, brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

Delicious... we went a few years ago when we went to Niagara Falls and I was working for a company based out of Rochester so it was a dual trip. Knowing the wait time was long and at the time I knew a guy who knew a guy so we didn't have to wait that long. We stuffed ourselves silly on ribs and brisket. This is definitely a must if you're driving to Niagara Falls and doing the wine thing. The reason I'm writing this review so late is that our snowbird neighbors live in Rochester and they recently went back up to NY. When they flew back they brought ribs with them. What a surprise and so good...... We've been so focused rebuilding our home after hurricane Ian that we might just have to make a trip up to enjoy delicious BBQ and sample more wine. read more

My partner and I decided to order some food from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. We got a Sweetheart deal for two (which included 2 racks of ribs, 4 side dishes and 2 pieces of cornbread), 2 chopped brisket sliders, a beverage and an extra hunk of cornbread. It was all delivered by Doordash, and with a tip, the bill totaled around $60. Once we started assembling the meals, we noticed that the cornbread that was supposed to be in the Sweetheart deal was not delivered. Then we noticed that the beverage was missing as well. The side dishes were amazing! Mashed potatoes with gravy, mac salad, coleslaw... all of them were tasty, and a special mention goes to their BBQ beans. That menu item was out of this world! Because of the missing items, I am giving them 4 stars for the service, but the food was great and I will be ordering again. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Dinosaur Bar-B-Que food delivery - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

I utilized the catering option for my family reunion game night. The food was a huge hit and my family is still raving about the chicken wings. The delivery went smoothly and I will definitely use this service again the next time I have a family gathering. My favorite Rochester, NY barbecue spot. read more

Great BBQ for a great price! If you like the smoky flavor, go later in the evening and you'll get the meat that's been sitting in the smoker for longer!! I absolutely love the mac n cheese, french fries and the roasted veggies. In terms of meat, I'm a big fan of the brisket!! read more

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When we arrived: Jim was amazing (welcoming, helpful, smiling) While waiting on a table: Great local beer from the bar (Rochester Citra) At table: fabulous service and outstanding food (ribs, pork, brisket, cornbread, greens, coleslaw, beans...everything!) I look forward to coming back when in town for work every trip! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

We made a reservation for 4:00pm on a Sunday. It was pretty busy at that time and we were seated at a booth with a window. It's a cool looking place with a couple of rooms to eat in. Our server, Suzy, was amazing and provided excellent service. She answered all of our questions in detail and always checked in on us to make sure we were doing okay. We ordered the sweetheart deal for 2 which comes with a full rack of ribs and 4 sides. The ribs were amazing, with lots of meat on them. They weren't your fall of the bone type, but great nonetheless. I like how they don't put a lot of sauce on them. We found the wango tango spicy BBQ sauce was our favorite for dipping. The chili we got was not bad, the mashed potatoes and gravy were very tasty, the coleslaw was too raw crunchy and plain, but the bbq beans were outstanding. read more

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Amazing! The food was 10/10 - my favorite was the mashed potatoes side and the ribs. The environment is also great, very southern vibe. It took a while to get seated (an hour) but once we ordered the food came fast. Overall I'm very impressed. read more

Ordered a BBQ chicken on a salad. I only had 5 choices for a dressing, and I didn't want any of them. Told the waitress I'd try their ranch dressing and it came out the consistency of milk. Very unacceptable. Put the bbq sauce on the chicken which did not look like it had been cooked any other way than boiled. The sauce was highly seasoned to the point it was uncomfortable to eat. The deviled egg was paid for, but was AWOL and I had to ask for it. The best part of the event was knowing that I will not ever be going there again. read more

Corn bread... Corn bread... Gimme the corn bread. Came with my friends on a Sunday right when the kitchen opened at noon. We had a reservation but we could have just walked in. Even though it just opened, the place was already starting to fill up. There were 4 of us, we ordered fried green tomatoes, a rack of ribs, a lb of shrimp, the brisket platter, and of course, sides and CORN BREAD. Our waitress was attentive without being overbearing and our food came fairly fast. The only thing that confused me was the platter... Since it said platter I assumed it would just be slices of meat but ... A sandwich came and apparently all a platter means is that it comes with 2 sides?!?! I don't know. It was whatever. The food was delicious and there was a great view of the river sitting by the window. read more

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Very good bbq. The wings are the show stopper. The Caribbean jerk wing sauce was amazing. The brisket was good, the baked beans as well. Very good! read more

Dinosaur is such a family friendly place. Their barbq is tasty but the burgers are amazing! I know ppl usually don't go here for burgers but try it some time! Ambience is nice and serves are always very friendly read more

My friends and I (probably a group of 10-12) came here at around 1-2 AM one night looking to get something quick to eat. Visiting just for the weekend, we had trouble finding somewhere that served food and was open past midnight. Luckily I sought out this gem and had my first serving of poutine! I was not disappointed. I can't remember the name of our server but he was very kind to us even though we were a large group in the middle of the night. I had a great experience here! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Poutine - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

I've had Dinosaur catering several times before this. Being vegetarian, it's not really for me. And I'm not a fan of their mac and cheese. I do like their cornbread, which I ordered today. But I recently found out they had deviled eggs on the menu, so continuing my deviled egg crawl of Rochester, I wanted to check them out. :) I called to see if there was any meat on them, and there was not. Since I called already, I just placed my order on the phone. It was quick and easy, and they said about 10 to 15 minutes, which was fine. My issue with the place is the parking. I know it's in the city, but I was surprised to find they had NO parking! I was hoping something was marked for to go orders or something, and the small parking lot they had was blocked with cones. There is construction going on next to them, so that's probably not helping. Adding to that, there was an event going on at Blue Cross, so traffic was totally stopped in front of the restaurant. I was literally about to call and cancel my order when I found a spot. The parking alone already made my mind up that I was never doing this again before I even had any of the food. I walked there and picked up my order. There was no line and the food was ready. Very easy. It's really loud in there though. It's not a place I want to eat at, which I was pretty sure about before I walked in, and I'm even more sure of now with the whole parking situation on top of it... So, on to my food. The little brown bag it was in was very cute. And the macaroni salad is huge, and we'll have macaroni salad all weekend. It wasn't my favorite macaroni salad, but it was good, and I'd eat it again. I like the shell pasta. So, what I really wanted to try was the deviled eggs. The picture I posted is what they looked like when I opened the bag. They put the cornbread on top of them, so they got a little crushed. They're pretty, so I was a little disappointed. I know I'm just going to eat them anyway, but the presentation would have been great if they weren't crushed. So, they were a little hot for me. I wasn't surprised since the menu said they'd have cajun spice. I needed a drink after I ate one, lol. And I really liked the consistency of the filling. So I'd say they were good, but nothing I'd go back for again. Maybe someday when the construction is done and if the parking improves. read more

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Dinosaur BBQ hands down is one of my FAVORITE spots in the ROC for delicious food, that also meets my #glutenfree needs cause of Celiac! Staff are knowledgable, and my food ALWAYS comes out from a manager, an extra safety precaution I love. Now durin times of quarantine, Dinosaur BBQ is continuing to provide AMAZING food - while keeping patrons safe. I ordered, easily over the phone, and received my food, with no issues, and clearly labeled as "allergy" on the take out container, as well as ticket, which puts my mind at ease. ANYWAY - TO THE FOOD. The meat here is INCREDIBLE I order it plain, no extra sauce, so I can taste full smoke flavor, my favorite is the pulled pork, brisket and ribs, with coleslaw and the tomato cucumber salad OR house salad. read more

Girlfriend and I did not finish our food so we took it to go. While taking a bite of the greens she noticed a hard, strange object in it. Turns out it was a FINGERNAIL.. absolutely disgusted. Would never suggest coming here. FYI- MRSA, Staph aureus are commonly found under finger nails. Unacceptable, and should be reported to DOH to ensure safety of patrons. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Fingernail from greens - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

AMAZING food. Our server, Maria, was the greatest. Brisket sandwich with cheddar was otherworldly. Poutine left my wife speechless. I HIGHLY recommend Dino BBQ to anyone visiting Rochester. read more

We always go out of our way to stop in when near one of the Dinosaurs. Have never been disappointed.

I once was told you can never go back home, if you do you will be disappointed. Well, it's not true. I had not been to dinosaur BBQ possibly 12 years. This week was my birthday and given the fact that restaurants were closed I ended up deciding to have food delivered from dinosaurs barbecue. What a beautiful surprise, Not only was I not disappointed, The food was even better than I remembered. We ordered just basic foods such as ribs and chicken, macaroni salad and coleslaw but we enjoyed it all! I cannot imagine a place any better than this restaurant for those items. Now the only bad side is all I can think about is wanting more ribs and chicken. read more

Really great place! I've had the ribs, brisket and chicken. All of it is phenomenal. Tender, juicy and full of flavor. Smoked wonderfully. Last time I was there 6 of us got a family meal that had everything I just mentioned including several large sides and cornbread of for $90. We even had leftovers. Staff is pleasant and the environment is comfortable. I would recommend this place highly. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - My beautiful mother and aunt. We had a great time. - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Twice recently ordered takeout. Both times the orders were short major items. The first time it was a whole rack of ribs, didn't notice until I was back at the car. Went back in and they fixed the error within about 10 minutes. This time the brisket was missing from the black bean and rice bowl, didn't notice that until we got it home. Not going to bother this time, going elsewhere from now on. The great food does not balance out with the inconvenience of getting shorted on food. read more

Dinosaur is honestly, hit or miss .. and because it's more often a hit, I'm proudly giving dinosaur 5 stars. My go to is the combo plate. Fall off the bone ribs, brisket ( that's hit or miss on whether it's dried out or not ) Mac & cheese side and the house, salad with their to die for house dressing. Service is typically fast and responsive, atmosphere gives you that Hometown feeling. read more

Worst service ever..never again. Waited 44 min for food. Left there and went to campies 205 Scottsville rd got my steak in 5 min. Great service.. And the food was less than half the price I would have paid at dinosaur Barbecue there we are read more

We came here for their bbq wings. I had 6 wings with 3 jerk glaze and 3 Buffalo. The Jerk wings were good and charred. Their blue cheese is the best with Mac and cheese. It was a long wait but the wings were smoked and yum. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - From left to right- 3 Buffalo wings, 3 jerk glazed wings, Mac & cheese and corn. - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, New York